Role of Rural Built Environment in Travel Mode Choice: Evidence from China

61 Pages Posted: 1 Oct 2022

See all articles by Zhao Yu

Zhao Yu

Beijing University of Technology

Peilin Li

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Tim Schwanen

Transport Studies Unit, University of Oxford

Pengjun Zhao

Peking University

Zhifeng Zhao

Beijing University of Technology

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Abstract

Although the built environment–travel connection has been extensively examined in urban settings, the evidence from rural and small towns is still scarce. This paper addresses the gap. Using national-level survey data from 119 rural towns throughout China, multinomial logit models are employed to analyse the influence of the built environment on travel mode choice in rural towns. The results show that close proximity to county centres, high-quality roads and convenient access to bus stops tend to reduce car dependence. Small-scale, compact, and mixed land use encourage walking and public transport use. The built environment variables, in particular, exert a stronger influence on mode choices for shopping trips than for commuting trips. The results suggest that spatial planning for land use and transport network would be an effective way of shaping greener travel behaviour in China's rural areas.

Keywords: Built environment, travel mode choice, rural towns, China

Suggested Citation

Yu, Zhao and Li, Peilin and Schwanen, Tim and Zhao, Pengjun and Zhao, Zhifeng, Role of Rural Built Environment in Travel Mode Choice: Evidence from China. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4234865 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4234865

Zhao Yu

Beijing University of Technology ( email )

100 Ping Le Yuan
Chaoyang District
Beijing, 100020
China

Peilin Li

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

No Address Available

Tim Schwanen

Transport Studies Unit, University of Oxford ( email )

Pengjun Zhao (Contact Author)

Peking University ( email )

No. 38 Xueyuan Road
Haidian District
Beijing, 100871
China

Zhifeng Zhao

Beijing University of Technology ( email )

100 Ping Le Yuan
Chaoyang District
Beijing, 100020
China

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